London’s appetite for top-notch nosh in a casual setting is showing no signs of abating, with more and more British boozers upping their game. From superior work drinks to impossible-to-resist foodie fare (think deep-fried Cornish anchovies, melt-in-the-mouth lamb shanks and sticky ginger pudding), gastropubs have changed the way we eat. After a meal that tastes posh without the posh price tag? These top 7 gastropubs are where it’s at.
The Jugged Hare
© The Jugged Hare
What:
London’s most exciting gastropub
This handsomely remodelled pub-restaurant has received a lot of attention for its great wine list and next-level bar snacks (anyone for Old Spot Scotch egg with spiced mayo?). An open ‘theatre’ kitchen with a state-of-the-art rotisserie and charcoal grill means you won’t miss any of the action, while a lovely oak floor and authentic taxidermy pieces give the space an elegant woodsy feel. Specialising in seasonal British game, spit-roast meats and wild fish, this classy gastropub is also popular for weddings and corporate events.
Sample dishes:
Pan-fried Lyme Bay turbot, braised chicory, samphire, chive butter sauce £26
Game tasting board for two £75
We like:
The dedicated Christmas menu with its fantastically festive dishes, like free-range Lincolnshire turkey, served with pork and chestnut stuffing, bread sauce, pigs in blankets and roasting juices
The Gun
© The Gun
What:
One of the city’s best waterside pubs
A former Time Out gastropub of the year winner, The Gun is known for its best-of-British menu and unbeatable river views. A smartly dressed dining space and a large terrace make this upmarket venue a refreshing escape from Canary Wharf. Drinkers will also feel at home at the beautiful bar counter, with its standalone menu and wide range of brews on draught.
Sample dishes:
Confit duck and liver terrine, caramelised figs, toasted 48-hour sourdough £8
Roast fillet Cumbrian beef, spiced carrot purée, charred shallots, buttered turnips, potato cake, red wine jus £32
We like:
The traditional Sunday lunch, which many say is the best in London
The White Swan
© The White Swan
What:
A smart gastropub with a great wine list
A wood-panelled ground-floor bar and a rather posh upstairs dining room make the White Swan a popular choice among young professionals. Located between Chancery Lane and Fleet Street, this classy space is known for putting its own spin on classic dishes, such as a Shorthorn Beef burger served with smoked cheddar, bacon and French fries or a treacle tart paired with zingy lemon-yogurt ice cream.
Sample dishes:
Scottish salmon fishcake, poached egg, butter sauce £9.50
Roast loin of wild Suffolk venison, crispy shoulder bon-bon, chestnuts, cocoa nib £18
We like:
The mezzanine balcony and floor-to-ceiling windows in the light-filled double-height dining room
St Bart’s Brewery
© St Bart’s Brewery
What:
The classiest brewery you’ve ever been to
Split over two levels, St Bart’s Brewery offers up next-level pub grub, much of which is sourced from nearby Smithfield Market. Stripped wood, barrel-top tables and exposed pipes give this Farringdon gastropub-turned-bar a sophisticated urban edge. From homemade bar snacks to comfort food classics, like pork pie with piccalilli and fish finger butties with tartar sauce, St Bart’s Brewery is a first-class addition to the city’s vibrant gastropub scene.
Sample dishes:
Cock-a-leekie pie £13
Real ale battered haddock, mushy peas, fries £14
We like:
Wines and ciders supplied by their Hush Heath Estate in Kent, including a very tasty strawberry and blackcurrant sparkling cider
Lord Wargrave
© Lord Wargrave
What:
A Victorian-style gourmet pub with a fantastic malt whisky list
Great whisky and smoking food is what it’s all about at this popular Marleybone venue. Lord Wargrave is a whisky fan’s paradise, stocking over 150 varieties and guaranteeing there’s something for every taste. They also smoke all their meat in house and are said to do the best St Louis pork ribs in town.
Sample dishes:
House-smoked Scottish salmon sandwich, pickled cucumber, dill £9.50
5-hour smoked Jacob’s ladder beef ribs £15
We like:
London’s largest selection of single-malt whisky
Bull & Gate
© The Bull and Gate
What:
A legendary north London music venue-turned-gastropub
In the heart of fashionable Kentish Town, this revitalised Victorian boozer is kitted out to look like an old-school gentlemen’s club. Expect modern, seasonal dishes in the stylish dining room and very tasty roasts on Sundays (think ‘double egg’ Yorkshire puddings, proper gravy and all the trimmings). Bull & Gate is also known for their inventive cocktails – order the spiced apple mojito for a seasonal take on the popular thirst quencher.
Sample dishes:
Smoked lamb shoulder shepherd’s pie, buttered greens £14.50
Ginger pudding, salted caramel ice cream, honey and bourbon sauce £6.50
We like:
The baby grand piano with complimentary live jazz on Friday and Saturday evenings
The Princess of Wales
© The Princess of Wales
What:
A regency-style gastropub in leafy Primrose Hill
Refined British grub is the order of the day at this lovingly renovated venue. An elegant first-floor dining room, lower-ground bar and the ‘Banksy beer garden’ (named after a lion stencil that appeared mysteriously in 2011) have re-established the Princess of Wales as a warm and welcoming local.
Sample dishes:
Duck liver and orange pâté, rhubarb chutney, toast £7.5
BBQ pulled pork bun, apple slaw, fries £12.95
We like:
The 2 for 1 cocktail deal from 5 to 8 pm Monday to Thursday (don’t miss the very naughty but very nice Chocolate Slip!)
Bio:
Jacinta Butterworth is a content writer at #tagvenue, the UK’s fastest growing venue bookings platform. You can follow them @tagvenue.
